Controversy stirs when Trenton City Council discusses president pro tem ordinance

TRENTON — A city councilwoman voted against the ordinance she had been touting after it was placed on the docket without her approval, she said last night.

Councilwoman Phyllis Holly-Ward said that newly appointed Council President Zachary Chester went against her wishes to advance an ordinance to create the position of a president pro tem for the body and also prohibit the council’s president or president pro tem from holding those positions as well as the office of mayor at the same time.

“(Chester) was persistent about putting it on,” Holly-Ward said.

Holly-Ward said the decision was political and alleges that Chester made a deal to get votes from other council members to elect him as president and in return would give them the pro tem position. She declined to name who the deal was made with.

“We will see when the votes take place,” she said.

“I will not be a part of any politics or back-room deals,” Holly-Ward said.

Chester refuted this claim, and declined to acknowledge Holly-Ward’s allegations.

“I am not even going to go there with the councilwoman,” Chester said.

Chester said as council president there is much to get done and he was trying to address the “low hanging fruit” and matters lingering before the last board first.

“A part of my first 90 days is to put things in place to handle these things,” Chester said.

Holly-Ward introduced a similar measure for consideration at the end of the council’s last term, but it never came up for discussion. She said she wanted to bring up the matter during a retreat session where it could be discussed openly.

In the last term, the city council attempted to create the position of vice president, but did so illegally and had to revert to only a president.

Acting City Attorney David Minchello said he has signed off on the ordinance and said it is in compliance with the law.

The matter will go for final approval and a public hearing during the council’s next meeting on Aug. 7.